Studies presented at the World Congress of Nephrology found patients 65 and older experience more complications from kidney transplantation than younger recipients, but suggest the benefits can outweigh the risks of remaining on dialysis. Transplants for elderly patients can improve life expectancy over dialysis.
 
The study monitored the survival of almost 300 elderly patients who were either on dialysis or on the kidney transplant waiting list. After five years, survival for individuals still waiting for a kidney transplant was approximately 31 percent. Individuals who received a transplant during this time had a survival rate of 49 percent.
 
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Fore more information about kidney transplants, visit the AAKP Web site.